Spring lifters



July 11, 1967 c, s s 7 3,330,548

SPRING LIFTERS Filed April 9, 1965 INVENTOR CHARLES l. STARNES BYaKfWWW ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,330,548 SPRING LIFTERS Charles I. Starnes, RR. 1, Box 415, Edwardsville, Ill. 62025 Fiied Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,838

Claims. (Cl. 267-61) This invention relates in general to certain new and useful improvements in spring lifters and, more particularly, to a device for expanding adjacent convolutions of an automotive coil spring.

Many automobile manufacturers currenly use coiled compression springs in the front end suspensions of their vehicles and one large manufacturer also employs such springs in the rear suspensions. Coil springs permit a smooth ride but in time the metal yields through fatigue and the portion of the vehicle supported by the spring sags, so to speak, which not only detracts from the appearance of the vehicle, but also causes the vehicle to bottom out more readily when severe bumps are encountered. To remedy this situation and to restore the vehicle to its original height spring lifters or adjusters of various configurations were developed for insertion between adjacent coils of the automotive coil spring.

One type of lifter heretofore developed utilizes a wedge which can be driven by hammer blows between adjacent coils and lodged in place. Of course, to prevent distortion of the springs, the lifters are generally inserted in pairs 180 apart. The wedge-shaped lifter presents several disadvantages which limits its usefulness. Many automobiles in the vicinity surrounding the coil springs do not have enough room to afford one an opportunity to swing a hammer and achieve sufiicient impact to drive the wedge completely between the convolutions of the spring. Further, if the wedge is not completely driven in between adjacent convolutions on the first impact, it is quite likely that it will be squeezed out of the spring with sufficient force to injure the mechanic attempting to install it. The presence of grease or oil on the spring greatly aggravates this condition. Moreover, unless the wedge-type coil lifter is struck squarely on the head thereof it will slip out to the side.

Another type of coil lifter employs a bifurcated strip of metal having slightly wedged bifurcations which can be inserted between the adjacent convolutions of the coil spring. This type of spring lifter must also be inserted by striking with a hammer and, of course, presents the same limitations associated with the wedge-type of lifters. Also the sheet metal lifter, owing to its very construction, is not sturdy enough to withstand the severe shocks often encountered by automotive springs.

A third type of lifter employs a very coarse doublespiral screw which leads up to two opposed lands adjacent to the outwardly presented end of the lifter. The lands are adapted to accept the adjacent convolutions of the coil spring and hold them apart. This type of lifter is inserted by placing the forwardly presented end between two adjacent coils and then inserting the drive shaft of a conventional socket wrench into a socket provided in the outwardly presented end of the lifter where by to impart a turning to the lifter, thereby screwing it in between the adjacent convolutions until they bear against the opposed lands. Again difiiculties are encountered due to the limitation of space surrounding the coil spring for unless the lifter is inserted within one complete turning movement, it will be screwed outwardly by the compressive force exerted by the spring. Thus, it is obvious that a ratchet wrench would be of little value in such a situation.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide a spring lifter which restores fatigued 3,330,548 Patented July 11, 1967 automotive coil springs to substantially their original height within the vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a spring lifter of the type stated which is easily inserted between adjacent convolutions of the coil spring.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a spring lifter of the type stated which is simple and rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a spring lifter which will firmly retain its position between adjacent coil springs and will not be distorted by severe mechanical shocks commonly encountered by automobile springs.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the spring lifter constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spring lifter constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the spring lifter constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a spring lifter constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing the spring lifter forming a part of the present invention being operatively inserted between adjacent convolutions of an automotive coil spring, the automotive spring being partially broken away.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view showing spring lifters forming a part of the present invention after they have been installed between adjacent convolutions of an automotive coil spring, the automotive spring being partially broken away.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A designates a spring lifter which is preferably cast or machined from steel or other suitable metal and is adapted for insertion between two adjacent convolutions K of a helical spring C fabricated from spring wire W. Spring lifter A has two parallel opposed side faces 1 and 2, and on its inwardly presented surface that is to say, the surface facing inwardly when spring lifted A is installed in spring C, it is provided with convex camming surface 3 which terminates at one end in the formation of an inwardly curved hook-forming or pivot recess 4 having a contour which conforms to the periphery of spring wire W of coil spring C. .As will be seen by reference to FIG. 1, the contour and location of camming surface 3 and pivot recess 4 are such that spring lifter A assumes a hook-like configuration h therebetween. Hook-like configuration or element h is, furthermore, sized to fit between two adjacent convolutions K of spring C when pivot recess 4 is brought into engagement with one of those convolutions K. At its other end camming surface 3 adjoins an inwardly curved arcuate retention recess 5 which is similarly curved inwardly to conform to the periphery of spring Wire W and is disposed opposite the recess 4 at a distance somewhat greater than the distance between the opposed edges of adjacent convolutions K. In this connection it should be noted that a portion of camming surface 3 projects outwardly beyond retention recess 5 in the provision of a slight gently contoured ridge r. Oppositely presented from camming surface 3 is flat end surface 6 which is bored in the provision of a perpendicularly extending socket 7, all as best illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the plane defined by fiat end surface 6 converges downwardly with a plane defined by lines laterally bisecting arcuate surfaces of hook-forming recess 4 and retention recess 5. In other words, the recess 4 and the retention recess 5 are offset laterally from each other.

To insert the spring lifter A between two adjacent coils of a coil spring C, the mechanic preferably first jacks the vehicle up off the ground so as to expand the spring C. He then brings pivot recess 4 into engagement with one of the convolutions K of coil spring C, preferably located about midway between the upper and lower end of the coil spring C, and allows the hook-like element h to fit between that convolution K and the one located immediately below it. In this position the camming surface 3 will bear against the lower of the two convolutions K, as best seen in FIG. 5, and flat end surface 6 will, of course, be oblique to the axis of the helical spring C. The mechanic thereupon inserts a rod-like installation tool or lever 8 within the socket 7 and applies a down- Ward force to the lever 8 thereby causing the camming surface 3 to cam or force the adjacent convolutions K apart as the spring lifter A rotates or pivots about the upper of two convolutions K at pivotal recess 4.

After rotating through a comparatively small arc the lower convolution K will pass across the lower end of the cammming surface 3, that is, the ridge r, and will engage the retention recess 5, all as best seen in FIG. 6. When spring lifter A is fully inserted between opposed convolutions K, flat end surface 6 will be obliquely disposed to the axis of coil spring C and the axis of socket 7 will project downwardly away from the end surface 6. This disposition of socket 7 also permits the mechanic to achieve optimum leverage on the lever 8 and avoid many of the parts in the confined area surrounding the spring. The compressive force exerted by the spring C, of course, will retain the recess 4 and retention recess 5 between the adjacent convolutions K and will prevent the spring lifter A from working loose or dislodging.

It should be noted that spring lifters A are preferably installed in pairs 180 apart or in some other symmetrical configuration to prevent distortion of the spring C and unequal distribution of stresses therein. By expanding the coil spring C and further, by substantially inactivating one or more convolutions, the spring lifters A increase the spring rate of the spring C. Thus, the axial length of the spring C is increased and a greater force is required to depress the spring C which in turn permits the body of the vehicle to ride higher and more comfortably above the wheels.

It is obvious that spring lifter A is easily installed for it requires only a short arcuate movement of the lever 8 within a relatively narrow vertical zone. In this regard it should be noted that present day automobiles are so constructed that this type of clearance and access for manipulation of the lever 8 can conveniently be found. In fact, this type of clearance is easier to locate than the type of clearance required for rotation of a wrench about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the axis of the helical springs C as required for installation of the screw type spring lifters or spring lifters which must be hammered into position.

Also there is no need to swing a hammer with the limited area surrounding coil springs C, but it should be noted that the spring lifter A can be inserted by use of a hammer. In such an instance, the mechanic merely strikes the lower portion of the flat end surface 6 thereby causing the camming surface 3 to spread the adjacent convolutions K as previously described. The angular disposition of the fiat end surface 6 with reference to the centers of arcuate recesses 4 and 5 also present more conveniently disposed surface for impact from a hammer. If the mechanic fails to achieve sutficient impact on the first attempt, the hazard accompanying the wedge-type lifter, that is, the tendency to pop out of the spring, will not present itself, for the hook-element h, will prevent lifter A from leaving the upper convolution K. Thus the spring lifter A is not only versatile, but is also safe to install.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of the spring lifters may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring lifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the springs and to increase the spring rate thereof, said lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which abruptly merges at its one end into a reversely curved pivot recess contoured to conform to the cross-sectional contour of the spring wire so that the body can pivot through a limited are about one convolution of the spring, said camming surface gently merging at its other end into an inwardly curved retention recess adapted for reception of an adjacent convolution of the spring so as to prevent the convolutions engaged by the recesses from approaching one another.

2. A springlifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the springs and to increase the spring rate thereof, said spring lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which merges at its one end into a concaved pivot recess contoured to conform with the crosssectional contour of the spring wire and located so as to form a hook-like element between the pivot recess and camming surface, the hook-like element being sized to fit between adjacent convolutions of the spring, the camming surface merging at its other end into an inwardly curved retention recess located opposite the pivot recess and adapted for reception of an adjacent convolution of the spring whereby to prevent the convolutions engaged by the recess from approaching one another as the spring is compressed.

3. A spring lifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the springs and to increase the spring rate thereof, said spring lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which merges at its one end into a concaved pivot recess adapted to pivotally engage one of the convolutions of the spring and located so as to form a hooklike element between the pivot recess and the camming surface, the hook-like element being sized to fit between two adjacent convolutions of the spring when the pivot recess engages one of those convolutions, said camming surface merging at its opposite end into a retention recess located opposite the pivot recess, said retention recess extending inwardly from the camming surface toward the pivot recess so that a portion of the camming surface projects outwardly beyond the retention recess in the formation of a ridge.

4. A spring lifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the springs to increase the spring rate thereof, said spring lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which abruptly merges at its one end into a concaved pivot recess adapted to pivotally engage one of the convolutions of the spring and located so as to form a hook-like element between the pivot recess and camming surface, the hook-like element being sized tofit between two adjacent convolutions of the spring when the pivot recess engages one of those convolutions, said camming surface gently merging at its other end into an arcuate retention recess located opposite the pivot recess at a distance greater than the distance between the opposed surfaces of two adjacent convolutions, said retention recess extending inwardly toward the pivot recess so that a portion of camming surface projects out- Wardly beyond the retention recess in the provision of a slight ridge of said spring. 7

5. A spring lifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the springs and to increase the spring rate thereof, said spring lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which merges at its one end into a concaved arcuate pivot recess which diametrally conforms to the wire of the said spring and is located so as to form a hook-like element on the body between the camming surface and pivot recess, said camming surface merging at its other end into an inwardly curved retention recess which diametrally conforms to the wire of said spring and is located opposite the pivot recess, said body having an end surface oppositely presented from said camming surface and located intermediate said pivot recess and said retention recess, said body being provided with an internal socket extending inwardly from said end surface and adapted to receive a lever-like installation tool so that a torque can be applied to the body for pivoting it on its pivot recess about one convolution of the spring thereby causing the camming surface to spread an adjacent convolution so that the adjacent convolution can be received and retentively engaged by the retention recess.

6. A spring lifter for installation on helical springs in the nature of automotive coil springs whereby to expand the spring and to increase the spring rate thereof, said spring lifter comprising a body having a convex camming surface which merges at one end into an inwardly curved arcuate pivot recess which diametrally conforms to the wire of said spring, said camming surface merging at its other end into an inwardly curved retention recess which diametrally conforms to the wire of said spring and is located opposite the pivot recess, said body having an end surface oppositely presented from said camming surface and located intermediate said pivot and retention recesses, said pivot recess being substantially greater in arcuate length than said retention recess, said body being provided with means for engagement with a manually operable installation tool adapted to apply a torque to said body and pivot it on the pivot recess about one of the spring convolutions, whereby the camming surface will spread the adjacent convolution which will ultimately glide into and be retentively engaged by the retention recess.

7. A spring lifter according to claim 6 in which the arcuate length of the pivot recess is approximately 180.

8. A spring lifter for installation on helical coil springs, said spring lifter comprising a body daving opposed side faces and being peripherally defined by a concaved arcuate pivot recess adapted to pivotally engage one of the convolutions of the spring, a concaved arcuate retention recess located opposite the pivot recess at a distance greater than the distance between the opposed surfaces of two adjacent convolutions of the spring, an end surface located intermediate the pivot and retention recesses, and a camming surface located opposite the end surface and interconnecting the pivot and retention recesses, the contour of the camming surface and pivot recess being such that the merger of the two forms a hook-like element on the body, which hook-like element is sized to fit between two adjacent convolutions of the spring when the pivot recess engages one of those convolutions, whereby when the body is pivoted on the pivot recess about one of the convolutions toward an adjacent convolution, the camming surface will engage and spread the adjacent convolution so that the adjacent convolution is ultimately received and retentively engaged by the retention recess.

9. A spring lifter according to claim 8 in which the body is further provided with a bore extending inwardly from the end surface, the bore being adapted to receive a lever-like installation tool, whereby a torque can be applied to the body for pivoting it on its pivot recess apout one of the convolutions of the spring.

10. A spring lifter for installation on helical coil springs, said spring lifter comprising a body having opposed side faces and being peripherally defined by a concaved arcuate pivot recess adapted to pivotally engage one of the convolutions of the spring, a concaved arcuate retention recess located opposite the pivot recess at a distance greater than the distance between the opposed surfaces of two adjacent convolutions of the spring, an end surface located intermediate the pivot and retention recesses, and a camming surface located opposite the end surface and interconnecting the pivot and retention recesses, the contour of the camming surface and pivot recess being such that the merger of the two forms a hook-like element on the body, which hook-like element is sized to fit between two adjacent convolutions of the spring when the pivot recess engages one of those convolutions, the camming surface merging at its opposite end into the retention recess in such a manner that a portion of the camming surface projects outwardly beyond the retention recess in the formation of a ridge on the body, whereby when the body is pivoted on the pivot recess about one of the convolutions toward an adjacent convolution, the camming surface will engage and spread the adjacent convolution so that the adjacent convolution ultimately passes across the ridge and is received and retentively engaged by the retention recess.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,807,459 9/1957 Copeland 267-615 3,091,448 5/1963 Kieffer 267- ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. R. M. WOHLFARTH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SPRING LIFTER OR INSTALLATION ON HELICAL SPRINGS IN THE NATURE OF AUTOMOTIVE COIL SPRINGS WHEREBY TO EXPAND THE SPRINGS AND TO INCREASE THE SPRING RATE THEREOF, SAID LIFTER COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A CONVEX CAMMING SURFACE WHICH ABRUPTLY MERGES AT ITS ONE END INTO A REVERSELY CURVED PIVOT RECESS CONTOURED TO CONFORM TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL CONTOUR OF THE SPRING WIRE SO THAT THE BODY CAN PIVOT THROUGH A LIMITED ARC ABOUT ONE CONVOLUTION OF THE SPRING, SAID CAMMING SURFACE GENTLY MERGING AT ITS OTHER END INTO AN INWARDLY CURVED RETENTION RECESS ADAPTED FOR RECEPTION OF AN ADJACENT CONVOLUTION OF THE SPRING SO AS TO PREVENT THE CONVOLUTIONS ENGAGED BY THE RECESSES FROM APPROACHING ONE ANOTHER. 